 |
Brandon Phillips trots toward home after hitting a two run homerun in
the first inning Tuesday against the San Francisco Giants. Photo Yahoo
Sports
Latos gets
first win as a Red
yahoo sports
CINCINNATI- Mat Latos finally got his first win for Cincinnati after
putting his price tag out of mind.
The right-hander pitched seven shutout innings against an old NL West
nemesis, and Brandon Phillips homered and drove in three runs Tuesday
night, leading the Reds to a 9-2 victory over the San Francisco Giants.
Latos (1-2) came to the Reds in a four-player deal with San Diego that
included starter Edinson Volquez and two prospects who were first-round
draft picks. He found himself trying to pitch up to that high price in
his first three outings.
‘’It’s always in the back of your mind,’’ Latos said. ‘’It’s like
you’re saying, ‘Wow, they traded four players for me.’ Who’s to say
you’re worth four players, but it’s always in the back of your mind
that, if you come here and don’t perform, it’s going to be a long
season.’’
He was back on his game against the Giants, allowing only four singles.
‘’It’s good to get him that first win, big-time,’’ manager Dusty Baker
said. ‘’He told me after his last start, ‘Skip, that won’t happen
again.’ He’s a man of his word.’’
Latos pitched out of the Giants’ only big threat, getting Nate
Schierholtz to ground into a forceout after the Giants loaded the bases
on a single and two walks with two outs.
‘’He pitched like he’s capable,’’ Phillips said. ‘’It’s all about
getting comfortable. He looked very good. I was very proud of him.’’
Phillips hit a two-run homer in the first inning off Matt Cain (1-1)
after being called out on a foul tip. The umpires decided the tipped
ball hit the dirt, giving him another swing.
The Giants have lost six straight and 11 of 15 at Great American Ball
Park.
Pablo Sandoval singled in his final at-bat, leaving him with a hit in
each of the Giants’ 17 games. It’s the second-longest hitting streak to
open a season in franchise history, one behind Johnny Rucker of the
1945 New York Giants.
Buster Posey hit a two-run homer in the ninth after Cincinnati’s Sam
LeCure threw a pitch inside, drawing a warning to both benches.
Cincinnati’s Joey Votto was hit in the seventh.
Cain was in one of the best stretches of his career when he loosened up
on a cool, breezy evening in Cincinnati. The right-hander had thrown 18
shutout innings in his last two starts, two innings shy of his career
best. In those two starts, only four runners reached base.
A foul tip led to the end of his scoreless streak.
Drew Stubbs doubled in the first inning. Phillips worked the count to
2-2, then tipped a pitch that Posey caught by the dirt. Plate umpire
Vic Carapazza called Phillips out, but first base umpire Gerry Davis
indicated that the foul tip hit the ground before reaching the
catcher’s mitt.
Given the reprieve, Phillips homered to center on the next pitch.
Instead of having a quick, scoreless inning, Cain wound up throwing 38
pitches in the first. He got into a rhythm after that inning. Ryan
Ludwick hit a solo homer off him in the seventh, when the Reds batted
around for six runs.
Jay Bruce and Scott Rolen each had two-run doubles in the seventh off
Dan Otero.
Latos’ win was his latest notable moment against the Giants. After San
Francisco eliminated San Diego from contention in 2010, he signed three
baseballs with ‘’I Hate SF!’’ in the offseason as part of a fundraiser
for major league players’ alumni association, insisting it was in good
humor.
‘’That’s old news,’’ Latos said. ‘’I’ve moved on. People have moved on.
The Giants have moved on.’’
NOTES: Giants 1B Aubrey Huff missed his third game while attending to a
family emergency. Manager Bruce Bochy wasn’t sure after the game when
he will rejoin the club. ... Kentucky coach John Calipari threw a
ceremonial pitch before the game. The Reds honored the Wildcats’
national basketball championship. ... An estimated 660 dogs were among
the crowd of 19,051 as part of a pet promotion. ... LHP Barry Zito
starts for the Giants on Wednesday. He’s 0-2 in five career starts at
Great American Ball Park with a 7.20 ERA. ... RHP Bronson Arroyo goes
for the Reds. He has allowed a total of three runs in 15 1-3 innings
over his last two starts.
|
|
|
|
